Twenty Countries Ask EU to Prepare for Climate Change Health Hazards 

A woman stands on the edge of the Garzweiler lignite open cast mine near Luetzerath, western Germany, on November 12, 2022, as in background can be seen wind engines. (AFP)
A woman stands on the edge of the Garzweiler lignite open cast mine near Luetzerath, western Germany, on November 12, 2022, as in background can be seen wind engines. (AFP)
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Twenty Countries Ask EU to Prepare for Climate Change Health Hazards 

A woman stands on the edge of the Garzweiler lignite open cast mine near Luetzerath, western Germany, on November 12, 2022, as in background can be seen wind engines. (AFP)
A woman stands on the edge of the Garzweiler lignite open cast mine near Luetzerath, western Germany, on November 12, 2022, as in background can be seen wind engines. (AFP)

A large majority of European Union countries want stronger EU action to prepare for the health consequences of climate change and global warming's potential to spread vector-borne diseases, a document seen by Reuters showed.

Europe is experiencing severe health impacts as a result of the changing climate. Around 61,000 people are estimated to have died in sweltering European heatwaves last summer, suggesting countries' heat preparedness efforts are falling well short.

In a joint paper, 20 of the EU's 27 member countries including Croatia, Germany, Greece, Malta and the Netherlands, have urged the EU to increase its surveillance of the threats to health and healthcare systems posed by extreme weather, to help countries prepare.

The EU should also draft plans for infections of zoonotic and climate-sensitive vector-borne diseases, and strengthen its early warning and response system for if disease-spreading vectors are detected, the countries said.

"Unless proactive measures are taken, it is a matter of time before certain preventable infectious diseases, which are currently more prevalent in other regions, become increasingly common occurrences within the EU," the paper said.

It was also backed by Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal, Romania and Slovenia.

Climate change is increasing the risk that infectious diseases will spread into new areas - including in Europe, as summers become hotter and longer, and increased flooding creates favorable conditions for spreading infectious disease.

An example of this is the tiger mosquito, which is now present in 337 regions in Europe - more than double the number a decade ago, said the paper, which was reported earlier on Monday by the Financial Times.

EU countries' health ministers will discuss the paper in a meeting next week. The EU is currently drafting its first climate risk assessment, due to be published next year as a basis for future policies to cope with climate hazards like heatwaves and wildfires.



Red Sea Film Foundation to Host Screenings as Part of 'Directors' Program'

The screenings will take place at Red Sea Mall cinemas in Jeddah from April 30 to May 3
The screenings will take place at Red Sea Mall cinemas in Jeddah from April 30 to May 3
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Red Sea Film Foundation to Host Screenings as Part of 'Directors' Program'

The screenings will take place at Red Sea Mall cinemas in Jeddah from April 30 to May 3
The screenings will take place at Red Sea Mall cinemas in Jeddah from April 30 to May 3

The Red Sea Film Foundation will organize a special film screening series showcasing works by acclaimed international directors, reaffirming its commitment to supporting the local cinema scene by hosting prominent figures in global filmmaking.
The screenings will take place at Red Sea Mall cinemas in Jeddah from April 30 to May 3.
The screening series is held alongside the "Directors' Program," organized by the foundation, and features emerging filmmakers from Saudi Arabia, the Arab world, and Asia and Africa. The program offers an intensive learning journey with workshops and orientation sessions on filmmaking.
The film screenings are part of the "Documentary Film Days" program, organized by the Red Sea Film Foundation and Art Jameel in Jeddah to support emerging cinematic talents.
The initiative is part of the foundation's broader efforts to advance the film industry locally and regionally and to bring international expertise to empower emerging filmmakers from Saudi Arabia, Asia, and Africa.